These MUST KNOW Facts About the Pegasus World Cup Field

The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), at 1 1/8 mile, is one of seven graded races and 10 stakes overall this weekend at Gulfstream Park with purses totaling $5.5 million, including the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) presented by Qatar Racing and $500,000 TAA Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G2) presented by SirDavis American Whiskey.

Here’s the field and what the connections are saying about them:

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Mystik Dan

Trainer Ken McPeek describes saddling Mystik Dan to victory in last year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) as reaching “the highest high. Winning the Derby is just the ultimate peak.”

After the Derby victory and a game second-place finish in the Preakness (G1), Mystik Dan checked in eighth in the 1 ½ mile Belmont (G1), run at Saratoga, and returned from a seven-month layoff to finish sixth Dec. 26 in the seven-furlong Malibu (G1) at Santa Anita Park. McPeek believes Mystik Dan didn’t have the best of circumstances in those races.

“[Jockey] Brian Hernandez felt he didn’t like the kind of deepness, if you will, of the Saratoga track last summer,” McPeek said. “I think this is more of a skip-along type of racetrack he’ll get over well, but he’ll have to do it in the afternoon.”

As for the trip to Santa Anita and the Malibu? “That race in California we weren’t thrilled with,” McPeek offered. “Maybe I’ll take the bullet for that. It was a long trip to get him out there. It was a two-day trip, truckin’ to California, and he didn’t do well at that distance.”

McPeek’s challenge now is to “figure out where he fits.”

“Some horses go from being a good 3-year-old to a good older horse, and that’s a challenge,” he continued. “Will he transcend from a very good 3-year-old to a very good 4-year-old? The [Malibu] wasn’t ideal. But it’s a long year and we have several races to see where he fits. Hopefully, he comes back and proves himself as an older horse.”

Locked

“He’s a horse that we always felt would be better going longer, so we’re looking forward to getting him out to a mile and an eighth for the first time,” Pletcher said. “He’s been training really, really well so we’re excited about it.”

The 6-year-old Crupi, third in last year’s Pegasus World Cup, has been a consistent performer throughout his career with a record of 5-4-5 in 19 career starts. The son of Curlin was second in last year’s Brooklyn (G2) and Whitney (G1) and third in the Woodward (G2). He wrapped up his 2024 season with a fourth-place finish in the Clark (G2) at Churchill Downs.

“He’s been training really well,” Pletcher said. “I think he looks as good as he’s ever looked, physically. He’s an older horse now, he’s fully matured and filled out, and his works have been solid.”

White Abarrio

“We’re very happy with him,” Joseph said. “He had an amazing work [Jan. 9]. He seems to be a horse who’s giving all the signs that he’s going into the race to run his best.

“Anytime you don’t have to ship a horse and can run on your home track, I think it’s an advantage. I definitely think running out of your stall is a plus. We’re happy where we’re at. If everything continues to go well, I think he has a very good chance to win the Pegasus.”

Power Squeeze

Power Squeeze becomes the first filly to face the boys in the Pegasus World Cup since Stellar Wind finished sixth in 2018. Owned by Lea Farms, LLC and trained by Jorge Delgado, Power Squeeze won the Alabama (G1) at Saratoga in August. After finishing seventh in the Cotillion (G1) at Parx, she prepared for the Pegasus with a second-place finish in the Rampart Stakes at Gulfstream Dec. 26. Javier Castellano rides.

“We could have run in the Royal Delta (G3) next month [against fillies and mares],” Delgado said, “but we feel like she’s a really nice filly. She’s won multiple graded stakes, and she appreciates the distance a lot. I think with the right pace she can beat whoever she faces in there. There are not many chances that you’re going to have to be in these races, so you have to embrace it and make the best out of it. We believe in the filly and that’s the reason why she’s in the race.”

Pegasus World Cup Closer Look

• Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystic Dan
• Florida Derby (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner White Abarrio and stablemate and Grade 2 winner Skippylongstocking;
• Trainer Todd Pletcher, winner of the 2022 Pegasus with Life Is Good, saddles two in Cigar Mile (G2) winner Locked and stablemate and Suburban (G2) winner Crupi, third in last year’s Pegasus;
• Trainer Brad Cox, winner of the 2021 Pegasus World Cup with Horse of the Year Knicks Go, will send out Grade 1 winner Saudi Crown;
• Power Squeeze, a Grade 1 winning filly, will face boys for the first time in her career and become the first filly to run in the Pegasus since Stellar Wind in 2018;
• Multiple Grade 2 winner Newgrange will try to spring an upset off a six-month layoff.